Best Time To Visit

i

overview

The Sepik Highlands Odyssey takes you through Papua New Guinea, allowing enough time in each place to be submersed in the culture and ecology of the area. You will be taken on a cultural journey through a few of Papua New Guinea's 700+ language groups, from the Melpa of the Wahgi Valley, to the Yokoim of the Karawari River, to the Iatmul of the Sepik River, and finally to the colorful and flamboyant Huli of the Tari Basin. Each destination has its own unique ecosystem - you may see the magical superb bird of paradise at Rondon Ridge, the bizarre12-wired bird of paradise at Karawari, the mysterious Sepik blue orchid in the Sepik area, or the stunning ribbon-tailed astrapia at Tari. This 12-day trip throughout Papua New Guinea will provide you with an unforgettable experience of this amazing "Land of the Unexpected."

itinerary

Upon your arrival in Port Moresby, you will be met by our local staff and transferred to your flight from Port Moresby to Mt. Hagen. Mt. Hagen is in the upper Wahgi Valley - a valley with some of the oldest evidence of agriculture in the world. Perched high on Mt. Kuta is Rondon Ridge, with unbelievable views of the Wahgi Valley. Stay overnight at the Rondon Ridge Hotel for the next three nights.

Spend two full days exploring the Mt. Hagen area and Wahgi Valley. The Mt. Hagen area is the home of the Melpa people, a people with a strong culture, who, in the face of modernity, still live largely traditional subsistence lifestyles. In the mountains surrounding the Wahgi Valley live a stunning array of bird, orchid, and plant life.

As you fly by charter aircraft from Mt. Hagen to Karawari, the mountains start to give way until vast tracts of dense tropical lowland rainforest cover the landscape for as far as the eye can see. From the Karawari airstrip, you will be transferred by riverboat and by four-wheel drive vehicle to Karawari Lodge. Sitting on a ridge above the Karawari River, Karawari Lodge boasts a spectacular view over hundreds of miles of dense tropical jungle. The Karawari Lodge was inspired by local architecture and was built with traditional materials, yet still provides modern comforts.

Wake up to the chattering of lorikeets and eclectus parrots. After breakfast, enjoy touring programs that provide insight into the amazing ecology and culture of the Karawari area. You will be in the middle of Arambak country, where locals pole dugout canoes, the drums throb, the wild birds call, and traditional village lifestyles continue unchanged.

Fly to Timbunke. Transfer from Timbunke airstrip to our floating lodge, the Sepik Spirit. The lodge is based in the village Kaminimbit I. Inspired by the architecture of the "haus tambaran," or spirit house, the MV Sepik Spirit has a truly unique design.

Begin your voyage of discovery into the mystical world of the Sepik with a slow jet-boat cruise to the air-conditioned comfort of the Sepik Spirit. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon tour to Kaminimbit I, Kaminimbit II, and Kororua Village. While touring the mighty Sepik, visit villages where the people are prolific and famous carvers. Here you can purchase many interesting items such as masks, elaborately carved hooks, ancestral figures, hand drums, baskets, bilums and gourds.

The Sepik River is one of the largest rivers in the world - in terms of flow. Steeped in mystery, the peoples of the Sepik area have fascinated anthropologists like Margaret Mead since the area was first visited.

Fly by charter aircraft to the Ambua airstrip over some of the most rugged and impressive landscapes in the world. The country between Ambua and the Sepik region is an amazing array of jagged limestone that seems to rise and drop at impossible angles. Ambua Lodge is high on the slopes of the Tari Valley, which is the home of the Huli Wigmen, a colorful and elaborate people, who are still largely living the same way their ancestors did. These proud warriors have great reverence for birds, imitating them in ceremonial dances and decorating their wigs with feathers, flowers, and cuscus fur. The wigs are woven from human hair, daisies are cultivated for use in the wigs, and male dancers paint their faces with yellow ochre. The women, by contrast, wear black for their weddings and coat themselves with blue-gray clay when mourning. This is one of the few places where the traditional way of life can be seen in everyday living. Men and women can still be seen wearing traditional dress, tending to their gardens and pigs, and building their huts from bush materials. Enjoy an afternoon guided nature walk through the alpine forest looking for the exotic bird of paradise.

A full day of ecological and culturally-based touring is sure to satiate those yearning for discovery. For the adventurous, there is an opportunity to have a bona fide village experience. Enjoy the day exploring the natural wonders of the Tari Valley area, which is home to an incredible 13 species of birds of paradise as well as numerous unique orchid species.

As your odyssey draws to a close, you depart the Ambua airstrip on a flight to Mt. Hagen and then your flight onward airport to Port Moresby. You will be met in Port Moresby and transferred to the Airways Hotel for your overnight stay.

Need to Know

While traveling in Papua New Guinea, please keep in mind that although PNG is situated relatively close to other well-developed South Pacific and Asian nations such as Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Indonesia, and Singapore, PNG is somewhat isolated, and, as a result, most services and facilities, including transportation and tourism, are relatively underdeveloped by comparison. Unlike these countries, you are visiting a country with a tourist trade in its infancy and thus you may have to deal with different situations along the way. PNG also has a culture that is completely different from others. Although these factors make for a unique experience, at times it may create circumstances that might become frustrating if the visitor does not remain patient and keep an open mind. If you come to Papua New Guinea with a spirit of adventure and a positive, flexible attitude, you will have only good memories to take home with you.

Not included in costs: Meals not noted as included, gratuities, beverages (except tea or coffee at meals), international or domestic airfare unless specified, airport departure taxes not included with air tickets, visas, itinerary changes after confirmation, any services not included in itinerary, any costs incurred due to canceled or delayed flights, acts of nature or other happenings beyond our control, or other costs as are more fully described in JOURNEYS Terms & Conditions.

Deposit and payment schedule:$800 non-refundable deposit per person per trip or the applicable amount based on the trip and the proximity of the departure date. A second deposit of $800 per person is due four months prior to departure, and final payment for land arrangements is due 60 days prior to departure. (Note: this schedule supersedes that listed in the general Terms and Conditions.) Airlines require full payment when tickets are issued. The deposit may be made by Visa, Master Card or check, and the Reservation Form may be submitted by fax, mail or via our website. Full payment schedule and cancellation penalties are described in our Terms and Conditions as noted in our Global Expedition Catalog, on our website and elsewhere. Please request these if you do not have them before advancing a deposit.

Insurance: When you make your application, we strongly recommend the purchase of comprehensive travel insurance in case of emergency situations. Please contact us for a recommended policy.

Air fares: JOURNEYS can make complete air arrangements applicable to your trip as noted in this itinerary. If you wish to redeem frequent flyer mileage or arrange flights directly with the airline, you may do so on your own at no penalty. If you do, please consult with us on exact arrival and departure dates and times before having your tickets issued to avoid errors.

Itinerary Change Fee: There will be a $40 fee for changes once an itinerary has been confirmed and approved. Additional cancellation penalties or change fees may apply as per our terms and conditions. The passenger is responsible for such fees.

Trip Extensions

Sydney is a great place to spend more than just a day, whether you are looking for an exciting place to explore or hoping to just sit back and relax. Discover Sydney's unique dining, shopping, and recreational options in one of the world's most attra... read more

The Ambullua Trek is a moderate trek through grassland and rainforest, surrounded by the mountains of the Bismark Range. The local people are friendly and welcoming, rarely seeing visitors.
"We've traveled the world and experienced many primitive c... read more

explore the map

From the Journeys Blog

March 18, 2014Five Astounding Cultural Encounters

Journeys Director Will Weber describes a handful of priceless cross-cultural experiences available to you on our trips. At Journeys we have always felt that making authentic connections and even …